Chapter 150 – Magikarp’s Unique Skill! A Certain Death Situation!

The Death Beast's massive claw tore through the dark sky, the invisible membrane that sealed its death energy now acting like a pressure chamber—condensing the deadly aura and making it even more menacing.

That tangible wave of malevolent force surged toward the red figure suspended midair in a stream of Elemental Water—Magikarp.

To Death Beasts—beings of decay and destruction—Pokémon like Magikarp, overflowing with natural life force, were especially loathsome. Even an S-Class Death Beast couldn't suppress its hatred toward a living creature like that.

"Now! Magikarp!"

Just as the claw was about to strike—

Zhou Xiaofei, bloodied and bruised, shouted with all his strength, disregarding his injuries.

In an instant, Elemental Water burst forth beneath Magikarp, as if responding to Zhou Xiaofei's cry. A massive amount of water converged at once.

Zhou Xiaofei had trained Magikarp with everything he had—dedication, patience, and love.

Unlike Su Bai, who from the beginning saw Magikarp as one of the weakest Pokémon, Zhou Xiaofei never doubted it. He poured his entire heart into raising it.

The move Tackle was just one of the small fruits of his intense training.

Zhou Xiaofei didn't walk the same path as others. While most trainers would have given up on Magikarp, abandoning it in favor of stronger Pokémon—

Zhou Xiaofei never wavered.

He might not understand everything about Pokémon, but he knew one thing:

Magikarp was a Water-type, and every Water-type had a natural connection to Elemental Water.

In that environment, Magikarp could swim as if it were flying—hovering and darting with extraordinary speed.

To Zhou Xiaofei, that alone was a marvel.

So beyond regular training, he'd focused on one thing—never stopping Magikarp's Elemental Water practice.

Now, Magikarp could conjure Elemental Water nearly as fast as even an evolved Empoleon!

And each night, it also practiced waterfall climbing—a routine that birthed a hidden, undocumented technique.

Under Magikarp's tiny form, a torrent of Elemental Water erupted.

It condensed into a vertical waterfall suspended in midair—an inverted cascade.

Without hesitation, Magikarp lunged upward, instinctively climbing the water like it had done so many nights before.

Magikarp had a high base Speed stat, and with its small, streamlined body, it now shot upward like a bullet—

Rushing head-on up the waterfall, straight into the air!

The Death Beast's claw, heavy with death energy, swiped with devastating force—

—only to slice clean through the waterfall, missing its true target.

Above the arc of its swing, a flash of red streaked through the sky.

Magikarp.

With its massive tail whipping behind, it spun—

SLAP!!

A crisp, resounding smack echoed through the air, louder even than the falling rain.

That mighty tail had slapped the upright, wolf-shaped Death Beast square across the face.

Even the sound of the downpour couldn't drown out the echo of that audacious strike.

Or perhaps, the rain had become its dramatic backdrop.

As the Death Beast reeled in stunned silence, Magikarp descended swiftly, falling like a crimson comet.

Zhou Xiaofei ignored the pain wracking his body, crying out joyfully, "Yes! Well done, Magikarp!"

Even Liu Qiaoqiao, who couldn't quite grasp what had just happened, clapped her hands in glee.

"That was amazing! Brother Xiaofei, you're awesome! Magikarp is awesome too!"

Her eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked at Zhou Xiaofei.

But from the Death Beast's point of view—

This was not just a mere slap.

The air itself froze.

An S-Class Death Beast… had been slapped across the face by a Magikarp.

And this wasn't some playful nudge—Magikarp's physical power had been hardened through brutal training.

It had once shattered a wooden board.

It had crippled a Contract Master with a single Tackle.

By all accounts, Zhou Xiaofei had raised this Magikarp to a formidable level.

But in front of an S-Class Death Beast, all of that meant nothing.

The monster's expression shifted—first in disbelief, then in uncontained rage.

Magikarp's attack hadn't even made it flinch.

Its defense was simply too high.

And yet…

An S-Class Death Beast still felt the slap.

Not physically—

But emotionally.

These creatures had intelligence. They commanded other beasts, formed coordinated assaults.

And now, one of them… had been humiliated.

From behind, the two other Death Beasts snorted heavily, almost mockingly.

The slapped Death Beast trembled with fury.

"ROOOOOOAR!!!"

Its already volatile temper snapped completely.

It raised its claw once more—this time with pure rage—and struck down.

WHAM!!!

It connected.

The colossal paw struck Magikarp mid-descent, sending it flying like a deflated ball.

It crashed into the newly paved tiles in front of the Pokémon Center, punching a crater into the earth.

The hope Magikarp had kindled—

Gone in an instant.

Its body lay broken, twitching feebly. Bones shattered. Scales cracked.

Were it not for Magikarp's naturally durable physique, that single strike might have killed it outright.

And truth be told…

That would've been the normal outcome.

The gap between a Magikarp and an S-Class Death Beast was too vast.

Hard work alone can't bridge it.

"Magikarp!!"

Zhou Xiaofei cried out in despair, tearing free from Liu Qiaoqiao's grasp, crawling across the ground.

His hands scrambled frantically through his clothes.

"Where is it?! No, no—!"

He was close to tears.

He didn't have any healing potions on him. Not even one.

He could feel Magikarp's life force flickering—

And he couldn't even return it to its Poké Ball!

He had only come out to clean up the center's trash. He never imagined needing to bring healing items.

Magikarp hadn't been inside its Poké Ball for ages. The Poké Ball, a keepsake from when he first received Magikarp, sat safely in his room like a treasured shrine piece.

Without it—

Magikarp couldn't go back inside.

All he could do now… was watch its life fade away.

And that agony—

Was worse than death.

"B-Brother Xiaofei…"

Liu Qiaoqiao sat beside him, trembling, her eyes locked on the looming shadow of the Death Beast.

With Magikarp down, there was nothing standing between them and the next attack.

The claw—massive and merciless—began to rise again.

And this time…

There would be no escape.

The Death Beast wasn't interested in games.

Its deadly paw descended, not giving them even a moment to react.

"It's… it's over…"

Liu Qiaoqiao's tears fell freely as she squeezed her eyes shut.

"I'm sorry, Daddy… I didn't live long enough to help humanity…"

But the blow never landed.

Instead—

A howl of agony tore through the air, louder than the thunder, sharper than the rain.

A scream.

A death cry.

Liu Qiaoqiao slowly opened her eyes.

In front of her—

The three S-Class Death Beasts were writhing in pain, clutching their heads with their claws.

"W-What… is that?"

She gasped, stunned by the surreal sight.

Her gaze shifted to the Death Beast that had just tried to crush them.

And there—on the tip of its giant claw—

A figure hung, limp and torn like a ragdoll.

It had been impaled.

Li Jian.

His face—twisted with black veins—was barely alive.

His dimming eyes stared straight at them.

Blood spilled from his lips, and with the last of his breath, he forced out the words:

"R-Run… cough… run…"

According to the Author:

[Author's Note]

This isn't an attempt to redeem Li Jian. But I believe characters should be three-dimensional. Humans are complex creatures. Even someone like Li Jian—despicable as he is—might have once had dreams. I hope readers will understand.